It’s 80 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, but before then Scotland will be hosting the Queen’s Baton Relay!
The Queen’s Baton Relay first took place in 1958 at the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, and this year’s Relay will mark its 16th year. It is a tradition that celebrates, connects, and excites communities from across the Commonwealth in the build up to the Games.
Since its launch at Buckingham Palace on the 7th October the Baton has visited over half of the 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, with events and activities staged to showcase untold stories and projects that address some of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
We are now concluding our final preparations for our five-day hosting of the Baton, with visits planned to sporting clubs, schools and other notable landmarks across the country, including locations not previously visited in previous years. You will be able to follow the activity across Team Scotland social channels.
The Scotland leg starts on Saturday 18th June in Inverness, travelling down the Caledonian Way before visiting Arran on Day Two. The Baton will then travel through Ayrshire and Glasgow on Day Three and Edinburgh on Day Four, before finishing in the Borders and Dumfries on Day Five.
The Baton will then visit Northern Ireland and Wales before England, with the host nation conducting a 25-day programme covering the length and breadth of the country. The journey will conclude at the Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony at Alexander Stadium.
For more information on the Queen’s Baton Relay please visit the Birmingham 2022 website. For further detail on Scottish QBR activity email colin.millar@teamscotland.scot.
Commonwealth Games Scotland has today announced that Paralympic silver medallist Alison Peasgood has secured her place in Paratriathlon, at this summer’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Visually impaired (less than 10% vision) Alison races with a guide athlete, who she is tethered to during the swim and run, and cycles with on tandem bike.
A former world and four-time European champion, Alison first took up the sport in 2013, having transitioned from athletics. She won a stunning silver in the PT5 event on her Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, alongside guide Hazel Smith and narrowly missed out on a medal at last year’s Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games finishing in fourth place along with her guide Nikki Bartlett.
Alison – who was born in Kirkcaldy and lived in Ayr – has taken a break from her physiotherapy career to train full-time and is based at the University of Stirling Triathlon Performance Centre. She has been a member of the World Class National Lottery-funded British Paratriathlon squad since 2014.
Speaking about her selection, Alison said “I’m excited to represent Scotland as it’s so rare to get that opportunity and it is fantastic that Paratriathlon will once again be on a big stage and will reach a much wider audience.
“My training has been really consistent over the winter; I’ve been working with a new coach and have a more stable guide support which has made training easier. I am excited to put it all together this race season.
“The crowds in Leeds last year at the Para World Series was beyond anything I’ve experienced, outside of Rio 2016. I fully expect Birmingham to be as good, if not better. I studied at University of Birmingham so it will feel like a home race with lots of friends and family able to come watch. I can’t wait!”
Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss said, “I am delighted for Alison that she has been selected to represent Scotland at Birmingham 2022 and make her Commonwealth Games debut. Alison brings a huge wealth of competition experience to the team and I am looking forward to seeing her compete this summer.”
The athlete who will guide Alison will be selected and confirmed in the lead up to the Games with two athletes in contention, Brooke Gilles and Hazel Macleod.
The Paratriathlon (for athletes with a visual impairment – PTVI) events will take place within the beautiful surroundings of Sutton Park, a 2,400 acre National Nature Reserve located 6 miles north of the city centre. It’s one of the largest urban parks in Europe.
Team Scotland will field a strong table tennis line-up this summer with Lucy Elliot, Rebecca Plaistow, Colin Dalgleish and Gavin Rumgay securing their places at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
16-time Scottish champion Gavin Rumgay, will take part in his fifth Commonwealth Games having competed in Manchester 2002, Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018. Now based in London, Gavin is excited to be competing in the Scotland shirt again, “I will give it everything for Team Scotland, this summer at my fifth Games.
“I am a fierce competitor when I am up and firing, serving well and being inventive. Having won 16 national men’s championships and 26 Grand Prix titles, I know how to win and that’s important when you take on some of the world’s best players at the Games. I can’t wait to be there!”
Lining up alongside Gavin is Livingston’s Colin Dalgleish, who made his Commonwealth Games debut at Gold Coast 2018 competing in the men’s singles and the men’s team event where he helped achieve a 9th place finish.
Colin secured his first Scottish national title in 2020 and represented Great Britain at the World University Games in Taipai in 2017 and in Naples in 2019. He is currently Scotland’s second ranked player after a strong performance at the recent Scottish Championships.
Colin said, “I’m absolutely delighted to be representing Scotland at my second Commonwealth Games. Over the next few months I’ll be working even harder to be in the best shape possible for Birmingham. I can’t wait for the Games to begin and be part of Team Scotland again!”
Fresh from European Team Championship qualifiers in Sarajevo, Lucy Elliott and Rebecca Plaistow will make their Commonwealth Games debuts this summer having narrowly missed out in selections for Gold Coast in 2018.
Plaistow – who currently tops Scotland’s rankings – recently moved to Newcastle-upon-Tyne to work as a nutritionist in the NHS. Reacting to the news she had secured her place on Team Scotland she said, “I’m really, really happy with selection. It is probably one of the biggest events I will play in my career, so I am really pleased to be selected. I’m really looking forward to the experience and the different types of players I will get to play.”
Elliot, who plays for Drumchapel Table Tennis club in Glasgow is looking forward to competing this summer, “It means everything to get this selection. The women’s team didn’t qualify in 2018, so to get a couple of us into the singles and doubles in Birmingham, that’s just amazing.
“In 2014, I was part of the Achieve programme so I got a wee bit of an insight then, but it’s not quite the same as doing it for real. Now it’s just heads down and train hard so we can go in feeling our best and doing the best we can. It’s going to be a great experience for sure.”
Commonwealth Games Scotland is also pleased to announce that Gordon Muir has been appointed as Table Tennis coach and will also cover Team Manager duties in Birmingham. Gordon has been coaching for over 10 years and has a wealth of international experience, most recently coaching Scotland’s men at the European Team Championships in Cyprus.
Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss said “I am thrilled that Gavin, Colin, Lucy and Rebecca have secured their place at Birmingham 2022. It is great to see a mix of experience in the team, with Gavin competing in his fifth Games and Colin his second, whilst Lucy and Rebecca make their debuts.
“We also welcome Gordon Muir to the team who I am sure will play a crucial role in bringing this team together on the world stage.
“I have no doubt that everyone in Scotland will get behind them and cheer them on to success this summer.”
Table Tennis will take place at the NEC Arena in Birmingham between 29th July and 8th August 2022, with two sessions a day.
Commonwealth Games Scotland has today announced that Olympian Steph Davis has secured a women’s marathon place at this summer’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games debutant is relatively new to marathon running, with the London-based athlete – who previously represented VP-Glasgow in track and field as a youngster and ran cross country for Edinburgh University Hare and Hounds – landing her Team GB debut at Tokyo 2020 after an impressive win in the trials.
After only three years after her first marathon, Steph – who is originally from Bearsden in Glasgow and is coached by Tim George – finished an impressive 39th out of a field of 80 in a stifling hot Sapporo in a time of 2:36.33.
Commenting on her selection and securing her first senior Scotland vest, Steph said, “I am delighted to be selected for the Commonwealth Games but also for my first outing for Team Scotland.
“My last major marathon was at the Olympic Games in Japan last year, which was an incredible experience. But due to Covid we had to travel solo, so I am excited that my next major competition will be closer to home so my family and friends can watch roadside and soak it all in with me.
“I have been training at home for the last couple of months and I’m really looking forward to building the volume and intensity over the next 14 weeks with my new coach Tim George.”
Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss said, “I am delighted for Steph that she has been selected to represent Scotland at Birmingham 2022. Steph had a really good run in Tokyo under tough conditions and I am looking forward to seeing her compete on the road this summer.”
The women’s marathon will take place on Saturday 30th July and will start in Smithfield – also the venue for the Birmingham 2022 beach volleyball, basketball 3×3 and wheelchair basketball 3×3 competitions. Runners will first complete two 18km loops before heading south out of the city towards Bournville. This is followed by a 6.2km section through the city centre, which finishes in Victoria Square, the location for the Town Hall and the Council House.
The Scottish women’s beach volleyball team has secured qualification for this summer’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, as one of the 12-strong line-up announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation today.
Scotland’s women secured their spot after a brilliant second-place finish in last summer’s Eurozone Commonwealth Games qualifier, which was hosted by Scottish Volleyball at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh.
The Scottish pairing faced a tough Cypriot team in the final, who gained automatic qualification through world ranking points, but the second place finish was enough to grant the Scots back-to-back Games qualification.
Scottish Volleyball’s High Performance Beach Coach and Programme Manager, Felipe Humana- Paredes, said “I could not be more excited that the women’s team have qualified for Birmingham 2022.
“With the Games so close to home this year, it will be a great opportunity to show off our sport and inspire the next generation to get on the sand.”
Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss said “I am delighted for the players, coaching staff and Scottish Volleyball that the qualification for Birmingham 2022 has been secured.
“It is set to be a fantastic competition, at a stunning venue in the middle of Birmingham. I have no doubt that the Scottish public will get behind the girls both at home and in Birmingham.”
Margaret Ann Fleming MBE, Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Volleyball said, “Everyone at Scottish Volleyball is thrilled with the qualification of the women’s team for this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“The beach game has been on a meteoric rise in Scotland since its inclusion in the Gold Coast games four years ago and we are already planning for a trip back to Australia for the Victoria games in four years’ time.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Commonwealth Games Scotland, the Scottish Volleyball Board, staff, partners, sponsors and of course our athletes who continue in their hard work, determination, and commitment in making beach volleyball bigger, better and stronger.”
The beach volleyball competition runs from 30 July to 8 August and will be held at the former Smithfield Market at a temporary Games venue in the heart of Birmingham city centre.
See the full line-up of qualified teams in both men’s and women’s events on the CGF website: Beach volleyball line-up confirmed for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games | Commonwealth Games Federation (thecgf.com)
Commonwealth Games Scotland has today announced that Alice Aitchison, Agata Herbert, Jodey Hughes, Craig Carfray and Jason Epton have secured their places at this summer’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Jodey Hughes from East Kilbride returns to the Team Scotland squad, having made her Commonwealth Games debut at Gold Coast 2018 placing 9th in the 58kg category. Jodey took silver in the 55kg event at the British Championships earlier this year and is aiming for medal success in the same category at this summer’s Games.
Commenting on her selection Jodey said “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted something so much in my life. This has been all I’ve been thinking about for the last four years. I’ve literally dreamed about this moment over and over in my training, and to have achieved this goal feels surreal.
“The most wonderful thing about competing in Birmingham is that it is commuting distance for my Scottish family and friends. The competition is going to be amazing. This is my second Games, so I bring plenty of experience with me. I can’t wait and I’m going to just take every moment in.”
Jodey will be joined in Birmingham by Commonwealth Games debutants Alice Aitchison in the 71kg category, Agata Herbert in the 76kg and Craig Carfray in the 67kg events, who all claimed bronze in their respective categories at the British Championships in January.
Alice Aitchison, who trains in Broxburn said: “It’s hard to put into words the sense of pride I feel getting to represent Scotland on the platform in Birmingham this year. I can’t wait to get to the Games and making the team definitely makes up for the sacrifices I have made to be where I am.”
Agata Herbert, who is originally from Poland but now calls Edinburgh home said “The last two years brought unusual challenges for us all and it has personally been a huge test of commitment to persist with my training when gyms were not always available.
“Through perseverance and support from my coach and close network, I am thrilled to be representing Scotland – my adopted mother country – at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. I can’t wait to lift with the team on the big platform!”
Craig Carfray, who narrowly missed out on selection for Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018 is delighted to make it third time lucky in the West Midlands this summer “It will be an honour to represent my county at the Commonwealth Games. I had the disappointment of missing out in Glasgow and Gold Coast, so I am absolutely buzzing to get on that platform and compete. This is my time to shine.”
Jason Epton, who represented Team Scotland at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games will compete in his first senior Games this summer in the 81kg category. Commenting on his selection he said “I am honoured to Scotland at the Games. But the hard graft doesn’t stop there though, and I am absolutely buzzing to get the chance to be on that platform, wear the Saltire and do my country proud!”
Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss said “I am thrilled for Agata, Alice, Jodey, Craig and Jason that they have secured their place at Birmingham 2022. Weightlifting is always an exciting and thrilling sport to watch, and it is great to see a mix of experience in the team. I am sure everyone in Scotland will get behind them when they take to the platform and cheer them on to success this summer.”
Weightlifting will take place at the NEC Precinct in Birmingham between 30th July and 3rd August 2022.
With 100 days to go until the start of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Siobhan Mackenzie has been announced as Team Scotland’s Official Parade Outfit Designer.
Contemporary Scottish fashion designer Mackenzie has created a bespoke tartan, which will form a key part of the Opening Ceremony outfit worn by athletes and team members at the Opening Ceremony at the newly developed Alexander Stadium on Thursday 28th July.
The Black Isle born designer launched her self-named label in 2014, in a year which included a stint as an alteration technician at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
She was named Best New Scottish Designer 2016 and, after co-creating the outfits worn by athletes at the Gold Coast in 2018, will now lead the design of this year’s ensemble.
The tartan is inspired by colours synonymous with both Team Scotland and Birmingham 2022, and will be produced by the Lochcarron Mill in Selkirk. The full outfits will be revealed in the build-up to this summer’s Games.
Mackenzie said: “I am delighted to be designing the outfits for Team Scotland’s athletes and team members this summer.
“We want to bring a modern twist to the traditional formalwear, showcasing the best of Scotland with all eyes on our athletes at the Opening Ceremony.
“Sustainability is an important part of my approach and something that Team Scotland were passionate about reflecting in the design, with all components manufactured locally and using traditional methods where possible.
“It’s great to finally reveal the tartan design and I am looking forward to showing everyone the full outfits as we approach the Games.”
Elinor Middlemiss, Chef de Mission for Team Scotland, said: “It is great for us to be working with a top-class talent in Siobhan.
“The Opening Ceremony is such a special occasion, bringing all Commonwealth countries together to kickstart the Games, and we want to make our athletes feel proud to represent their nation on the world stage.
“Our athletes panel have been involved from the outset in the design discussions and we hope the end result from everyone’s efforts is a design that achieves that.”
There was agony and ecstasy for Scotland at the Birmingham 2022 Wheelchair Basketball 3 x 3 Qualifiers at Inverclyde on 14 April, with the women booking their place in convincing style and the men missing out by the slenderest of margins.
Wheelchair Basketball 3 x 3 will make its Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham and the qualifying tournament, hosted by the National Sports Training Centre, saw Scotland’s women take on Wales in a best of three format, while the men faced Wales and Northern Ireland in a round-robin, with the top two teams then battling it out in a play-off final for a place at Birmingham 2022.
Played on a half court with only one basket, 3 x 3 is an exciting, fast-paced format with the winning team being the first to 21 point or the highest score after 10 minutes of play.
Scotland’s women’s side of Jude Hamer, Lynsey Speirs, Jess Whyte and Robyn Love were in control from the start and followed 21-4 and 17-3 wins over Wales with a perfect 21-0 victory in the final game to secure their place in Birmingham this summer.
Emotions were running high as captain Robyn Love summed up what it meant to have the chance to represent Scotland on the world stage: “Unbelievable! I’ve been to two Paralympic Games, I’ve been with GB at World Championships and won silver medals and won European medals for GB, and now I get to represent Scotland, wow!. It’s just something I thought I’d never be able to do and I’m just so grateful for this opportunity now with 3 x 3 in the Commonwealth Games. I think it’s really exciting, not only for Scotland but for wheelchair basketball as we bring in this new game.”
For the men, a tense opener against Northern Ireland saw the team of David Hird, Josh Manson, Finley Tonner and Ben Leitch come up just short 12-14. A 18-7 win over Wales in the second game however set up a rematch with Northern Ireland in the final, and what a final it turned out to be.
With only a few seconds left on the clock, Scotland levelled the score at 9-9 to send the game into overtime, which in the 3 x 3 format means the first to score 2 points takes the win. Buoyed by the boost to their chances, Scotland took the first basket, followed by one for Northern Ireland. It wasn’t to be for Scotland however with Northern Ireland the ones to find the all-important second basket to take the match 11-10 and the place at the Games.
Catch up with all the action here: IWBF Europe 3×3 Commonwealth Games Qualifiers – YouTube